President Thabo Mbeki to Lead South African Delegation to the First Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Friday, 19 - Saturday, 20 November 2004

DAR ES SALAAM- South African President Thabo Mbeki who is scheduled to conclude his official visit to Belgium, Strasbourg and The Netherlands on Thursday 19 November is expected later in the day in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, ahead of the Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes region.

President Mbeki and the South African delegation will attend the Summit as a "Friend of the Great Lakes region".

President Mbeki's delegation includes Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad who is currently in Tanzania attending the Ministerial Meeting in preparation of the Summit of the Great Lakes Region International Conference.

Other African Heads of state and Government expected at the meeting include leaders of Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

The Summit is being held under the joint auspices of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) and is expected to deal with the following issues with regard to the Region:
· Peace and security;
· Good governance and democracy;
· Economic development and regional integration; and
· Humanitarian and social issues.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

? Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

17 November 2004